Spring is here. Really. Sooner or later, even if it doesn’t seem like it this week! Although the snow can be a great reminder about emergency preparedness. Do you have 3-5 days of non-perishable gluten-free foods if you need it? Because you never know…

Passover:
Passover isn’t here until March 30th but many of the products are already appearing in a wide range of grocery stores. Not all Passover foods are gluten-free, but many are, and there’s a much wider selection than usual at the grocery store. This can be a good time to stock up on GF cakes and mixes, cookies, macaroons, “bread” crumbs and supplies like potato starch. As an added bonus for people with multiple restrictions, most Kosher for Passover products contain no corn or soy products, either. More here

From a gluten-free perspective, possibly the best part of Passover is AFTER Passover, when all of the great gluten-free goodies are on sale! Passover ends April 7th, so mark your calendars, because the word has gotten out in gluten-free circles and the mad rush is on.

BTW, there’s always a mad rush to find the “matzo style crackers” that are GF. I saw them today at Whole Foods in Springfield…

A new article came out this month, suggesting that accidental gluten contamination may be more common than many people with Celiac realize. The study analyzes stool and urine peptides from a little under 200 adults and children with Celiac to estimate gluten consumption. Basically, what the study found is that on average, people who reported eating a gluten-free diet were eating potentially unsafe levels of gluten. That doesn’t even include people who intentionally or knowingly go off the diet. The researchers conclude that this accidental gluten may be linked to symptoms and/or intestinal damage. Unfortunately, the article does not go into the likely sources of accidental gluten. If you’re curious to read more, the abstract is here.

The Canadian Celiac Association weighed in on the NIMA sensor. In a nutshell, their concern is that it might give people a false sense of security, and they recommend against it.

Know someone with nerve pain related to gluten sensitivity? A new study showed that people following a strict gluten-free diet were almost 90% less likely to have nerve pain. It’s fascinating because some people assume gluten only affects the gut.

Take a purple pill? Some studies show PPIs for reflux aren’t risk free. Everyone is going to need different treatment plans, but looking at diet and lifestyle is often a sensible starting spot.

A new study shows that Splenda may affect gut bacteria, and this might cause increase risk for people who have relatives with IBD, or increased genetic risk.

People taking VSL #3 for Ulcerative colitis, VSL has changed formulation in the past year, and the new strains aren’t physiologically the same as the ones that were studied for UC.